Uncertainty over future Russian presence in Syria is high after collapse of Assad regime – UK intelligence
Pravda Ukraine
UK Defence Intelligence notes that after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, uncertainty about Russia’s future presence in the eastern Mediterranean remains high.
Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 21 December on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: UK intelligence reports that after the fall of the Assad regime, Russia’s former Syrian ally, the Russian Permanent Mediterranean Task Group (PMTG), has no access to its naval base in Tartus for maintenance and logistics. There is no comparable alternative base for the Russian task force in the region.
The future of Russia’s bases in Syria remains unclear as long as political uncertainty reigns in the country, the update states. However, Russia almost certainly wants to maintain its presence in the Mediterranean.
The ability to logistically support both its military and its mercenaries in Africa, as well as limiting the reputational damage caused by the fall of the Assad regime, will almost certainly be priorities for the Russian government.
However, Russia’s intentions to redeploy any forces or equipment to potential alternative locations in North Africa remain uncertain.
At the same time, the UK analysts believe that the Russian leadership almost certainly considers the war in Ukraine to be its primary concern.
Background:
- Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Russia and Iran were accomplices in the crimes of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and his ousting showed that they were “unreliable partners”.
- German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius believes that the events in Syria show that countries that have a strategic partnership with Russia can only rely on it as long as they are useful to Putin.
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